The Ascendancy Institute - another one of Academy City's laboratories. A large construction of glass, steel and concrete, the institute had little in common with the nearby research facilities in terms of appearance, with its sleek, high-tech appearance. That much was natural- after all, it was only recently constructed - with direct funding from the city Board of Governors, no less.

As Kasai and Ina approach the structure, they notice a man wearing a black jacket, hat and head mounted display walking around its perimeter, occasionally stopping to look inside and at the exits.

The entrance seems relatively lightly guarded for such an important-looking facility: only a retractable antivehicle barrier, an open gate and a pair of bored-looking, apparently unarmed guards sitting in a guardpost.